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Cycling, hiking and Vespa itineraries in the land of taste: Piemonte!
The best outdoor activities for sport lovers in Langhe and Roero
For many tourists Piemonte is considered the land of taste, where you can enjoy your vacation sipping wine and savour the best delicacies of its culinary traditions. For sure this is true, but it’s not the only way to be amused by this region, especially if you are an outdoor and sport lover.
Whether you are going by foot, by bike or by Vespa, you’re in for amazing sights and scenarios; the environment and the soft hills of this territory offer an infinity of opportunities for open air activities. Out of several difficulty levels offered, one will certainly match your own shape, and you will be able to go across vineyard rows, perched villages and medieval castles, while you look for breathtaking views.
Here the highlights of some outdoor itineraries you could experience in Piemonte.
Cycling routes
- Among the Castles of Barolo. This route takes the cyclist through some of the most atmospheric and fascinating landscapes of the Bassa Langa (Low Langa), where the world-famous Langa wines are produced. So, the two main themes of the route are those of Barolo and the magnificent countryside where this noble wine is made.
“Count Cavour’s Hills. This route, of moderate difficulty, can be recommended to all those who love cycling and offers the possibility of exploring one of the loveliest areas of the Langa wine hills.”
- The trek begins and ends in the village of Grinzane Cavour, where the wonderfully preserved castle of Count Cavour is situated.
- The milky way of Alta Langa. This route goes through the beautiful panoramas of Alta Langa (High Langa); an area of delightful surprise, with its uncontaminated landscape, spacious tracts of ancient woodlands and hazel groves. This is also the land of dairy farms, where a variety of delicious cheeses are produced using the traditional methods that can be recognised by the ‘DOP’ denomination on the label (Protected Designation of Origin), such as the famous ‘Toma di Murazzano’.
Hiking trails
- From Barbaresco to Treiso. This pathway guide you from Barbaresco village, the most eastern part of the territory, where Barbaresco DOCG, another great noble local wine is produced; to Treiso. Treiso stands at the junction of five hills and the village name derives from the Latin Tres or Terzius (the ancient Latin word for “third”): it was the village at the third milestone on the magistra Langarum (the ancient Latin word for “main road to Langhe”) Here the mix of local Rocche (cliffs), like Rocche dei sette fratelli and the beauty of Tanaro river, which cuts Roero and Langhe in half; let visitors enjoy timeless emotions.
- Alta Langa discovery. There are different trails that make hikers discover the history of this upper Langa region, which is traced in the ecomuseum dedicated to an incredible life lived between local valley environment preservation and human society growth. You can start from Cortemilia main square (Piazza Savona), a village built with local sandstone and nestled in the local unique terraced hills and see how Cortemilia is the capital town of gentle round Langa hazelnut. You can then walk toward the Pieve, the village wonderful tiny Romanesque church, before heading toward Perletto village, where along the way you will see the incredible landscape, dominated by woods, cultivation of hazelnuts and grazing animals
- Barolo hills. You can start this pathway from Monforte d’Alba, a village founded in the Roman era where the name “monte forte” comes from a military expression used to indicate its important strategic position during the wars between the local lords. Descending toward Barolo, the tiny village characterized by red roof houses and historical cellars, with its charming castle, where now is hosted the famous Wine Museum. In the end off to La Morra, the highest Barolo land surrounded by incredible vineyards, spotted by green and pink buds in spring, to orange and red hues in autumn.
Vespa ride ideas
If you are a Vespa’s lover, Piedmont is the right place for you. Its hills follow on one after another and the vineyards create colourful geometrical patterns and beautifuls streets surrounded by medieval castles and ancient villages.
- Barolo wine route. You can start riding your Vespa from Alba, the Langhe and white truffle capital, towards Grinzane Cavour castle, then Serralunga d’Alba, Barolo and Monforte d’Alba, ending in La Morra village, where breathtaking panoramic sites, and even the Alps, during clear sky days, can be viewed.
- Roero Journey. You can start the ride from the Langhe area of La Morra, the so-called “Langhe terrace”, to reach Roero and see how these 2 nearby lands are different to one another. Langhe is made mostly of calcareous marl, Roero, instead, is largely made of sand, from which the ancient seabed appear, rich in shells and fossils. Along panoramic roads, among vineyards and orchards, the trail steeps along narrow pathways crossing the renowned “Rocks” (Rocche del Roero), an impressive unrivalled spectacle of nature, the result of a geological phenomenon of erosion. Transfer then to Guarene,Magliano and Govone, to enjoy the romantic castles, before heading towards Montà d’Alba and Canale where you can enjoy some beautiful wines of this area in a traditional and local winery.